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Best Selling Records in Sweden - Kvällstoppen

Just like Tio i Topp (Top Ten), it was Swedish Radio's answer to the pirate radio stations that quickly became popular in the early 60's. See also our page on Tio i Topp.

The first host was Klas Burling, who also produced the radio show. He was later replaced by other well-known Swedish radio voices, like Rune Hallberg, Kersti Adams-Ray and Kiki Engerstedt.

The music chart consisted of the top twenty best-selling records in Sweden. Figures were based on sales data from a number of record stores. In the beginning, only about 44 record stores contributed with their sales, but the number of stores was later increased to 360.

In the late sixties, when Long Play albums starting selling more than singles, they also found their way into the charts. September 22, 1969, Kvällstoppen was split into two charts. LP albums had their own list (LP toppen) and the remainder of the regular chart was reduced to top 15. Unfortunately, LP albums could end up on both lists, making this separation superfluous. Swedish radio returned to the old system after one year. On September 29, 1970, only one list was presented, containing the 20 most sold records in Sweden (both albums and singles).

In 1974, when the basic idea of the program was questioned on ideological grounds. As a result, a part of the list was presented in a random order. A year later, in late summer of 1975, the show was cancelled. The last program was aired on August 19, 1975.

A short period in the 70s, Kvällstoppen was replaced by Skivspegeln, but the new show did not have the same impact. After only three years, this show was also discontinued. One of the reasons behind was that public radio should not promote or report the sale of a particular product (like music records).

All the way from 1962 until 1975, the radio show had the same theme song, "The Stripper" by David Rose's orchestra.